by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 184 U.S. colleges awarded 1,338 degrees and certificates in General Classics & Classical Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 78% of graduates. College Factual ranks 14 schools in its 2027 Best General Classics & Classical Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Its 3 related occupations pay an average median salary of $56,790 a year.
Studying General Classics & Classical Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics explores Classics And Classical Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics, General. A General Program That Focuses On The Literary Culture Of The Ancient Graeco-Roman World And The Greek And Latin Languages And Literatures And Their Development Prior To The Fall Of The Roman Empire.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics is a widely-pursued major, with 1,338 degrees awarded annually. 184 colleges award general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics degrees, an average of 7 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 42.
By level, the 1,338 awards include 1,042 bachelor’s degrees, 214 master’s degrees and 82 doctorates.
Women earned 61% of general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics degrees and certificates in the latest year (811 of 1,338). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (926) and Hispanic or Latino (136), and international students earned 74.
College Factual ranks 14 schools in its 2027 Best General Classics & Classical Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics Schools ranking, including 14 for bachelor’s degrees and 3 for master’s degrees. It also ranks general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics schools within 9 states. In all, 184 colleges offer general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Classics & Classical Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics credential is the bachelor’s degree: 1,042 of the 1,338 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of English Language, Education and Training and Foreign Language, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Speech Clarity, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
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How long a general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 1,042 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 214 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 82 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics, at 45.2%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 45.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 28.2% |
| Master’s degree | 15.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 3.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
3 occupations are related to General Classics & Classical Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics, with an average median salary of $56,790; the strongest outlook belongs to Interpreters and Translators, at 12.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Language Teacher, Language Instructor, French Teacher and Language Arts Teacher.
The occupation related to general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics with the most projected jobs is Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary, at 629,317.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 629,317 | 7.3% |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | 571,954 | 1.8% |
| Interpreters and Translators | 424,722 | 12.2% |
General Classics & Classical Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics graduates earn a median $49,987 four years after completing their program, $47,653 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 4 years | $49,987 |
| 5 years | $47,653 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general classics & classical languages, literatures, & linguistics is Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education, with a median salary of $77,927.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $77,927 |
| Interpreters and Translators | $52,627 |
| Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | $39,815 |
General Classics & Classical Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics has 3 similar majors in the Foreign Languages & Linguistics field, which together award 195 degrees a year; the largest are Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other (89), Latin Language and Literature (58) and Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature (48). Browse all Foreign Languages & Linguistics majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other | 89 |
| Latin Language and Literature | 58 |
| Ancient/Classical Greek Language and Literature | 48 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
